February 18, 2006

That's the temperature here in Madison. I thought it felt a little nippy when I darted out to pick up the newspaper without putting on a coat. Things are very sunny and prettily snow-covered from inside. But still... -15... that's cold.

Yikes! Brings back Midwestern memories...like when the Illinois college I went to would get us buses from the dorms to class only when temps were below minus 10. Minus five is great walking weather, LOL!

Great day for a rich stew, a glass of red wine and a fire in the fireplace.

Icepick, it dropped from the mid 70s in New Orleans yesterday to about 40, with damp chill, today. I think it's heading your way, so add some wooly socks to your shorts ensemble.

Nonetheless, in chilly damp cold, we bundled up and turned out along St. Charles Avenue this afternoon for the first day of Mardi Gras. It was tiny, the crowd was small, the floats were a bit beatup, with hand-lettered signs. There were a few marching bands, yay! The poor dancing girls were a bit blue, but they smiled anyway. It was good, good, good to be home.

While speaking with my mother at home in Illinois today, I learned about the steep drop in temperature there. For a moment I had second thoughts about telling her where I was making the call from. What goes though a person's mind when you tell them you're sitting on a beach in Hawaii and it's a little too warm?